A man found washed up on Jaywick beach by a dog walker has been named

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Emergency services were called to the scene but the man had passed away.

Today (Thursday, April 30) a full inquest into the man's tragic death confirmed his identity as 54-year-old Gordon Byiast.

Area coroner Lincoln Brookes and coroner's officer Marianne Robson were in attendance.

What is an inquest?

Inquests do not investigate every single death that happens, but will hear unexplained or suspicious deaths of individuals. They will hear from witnesses from organisations, health services, as well as officers and police who investigated the incidents.

The law says that the coroner must open an inquest into a death if there is a reasonable cause to suspect that the death was due to anything other than natural causes.

An inquest is a limited fact-finding inquiry to establish:

Who died;

When they died;

Where they died;

How they died; and

Information needed by the Registrar of Deaths so the death can be registered.

There is a formal court setting and all must stand when the coroner enters and leaves the court.

It is very much in the public interest to have an effective inquest system, as it safeguards the legal rights of the deceased's family and other interested persons. It highlights lessons to be learned and advances in medical knowledge.

Many families also find it helps to have the chance to ask questions to witnesses, and at the end of the process, know that they have the full and accurate facts about their loved one's death.

Ms Robson summarised the case by saying: "On March 18, Mr Byiast was discovered lying unresponsive on the beach at Jaywick by members of the public.

"Paramedics attended by Mr Byiast's death was confirmed at 6.36am."

The inquest heard how police believed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Gordon's death.

Pathologist Dr Wu carried out a post-mortem on Gordon's body at Colchester Hospital on March 25 and recorded a cause of death as unascertained.

Mr Brookes then considered evidence from police reports and family statements.

He said: "The deceased lived in Jaywick, not far from the beach.

"A member of the public was walking their dog when they came across the body on the shore.

"Police officers had attended and had retrieved the body, which was floating in shallow water, just away from the water's edge."

When police spoke to his wife following his death she was unaware of his absence.

"She assumed he had gone downstairs for a cup of tea"

Referring to the police reports, Mr Brookes said: "She explained that they had gone to bed the previous night, and after dawn had risen, she noticed he wasn't in the bed with her, but never thought anything of it.

"She assumed he had gone downstairs for a cup of tea."

The inquest heard that Gordon had been experiencing suicidal thoughts prior to his death and had told his wife she'd be better off without him.

His daughter, Danielle, also described him as being "anxious and pacing around the house and smoking excessively" the day before his death.

Mr Brookes said: "Clearly suicide would have been a very real possibility, it might even be the most likely of scenarios, but I am not able to say on the balance of probabilities."

Mr Brookes recorded an open conclusion and expressed sympathy to Gordon's family, therefore concluding the inquest.